Closure for collapsible tubes



y 1937- s. L. GILBERT 2,080,075

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 3, 1936 Zinvcntor,

SmNEi L. Gmaam'.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STAT ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible tubes for containing and dispensing plastic materials, such as tooth-paste, shaving-cream, paints and the like.

5 The primary object of the invention is to provide an annular closure of novel and simple construction, which may be expanded and applied to an integral cylindrical neck or shank of the tube that is formed with a circumferential disll] charge slot, and is adapted to be maintained in the closed or open position alone by its tension; the said closure or valve comprising an elastic rubber ring of circular cross-section having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the 35 neck, so that the closure may be forcibly rolled by virtue of its circular cross-section longitudinally towards and away from the discharge opening. A further object is to provide a closure for collapsible tubes that is not permanently se- 20 cured to the neck or shank thereof, thus rendering it unnecessary to machine the tube except to draw the neck and punch the discharge opening. No metal dispensing means need be provided either for the tube or for the closure. A

25 further object is to provide the neck with a closed and upset free end to form a beveled annular flange or stop, that prevents the closure from become accidentally detached from the neck; the latter having no other opening except the said 30 circumferential slot, which is disposed at right angles to the axis of the tube, whereby a portion of the inner face of the ring may expand, when it is rolled on the neck towards the beveled flange, and sinks into the depression caused by the form- 35 ing of the slot, to close and seal the said slot and prevent escape and waste of the contents of the tube by the ordinary handling thereof. The rubber of the ring valve is preferably spongy, so that when it is disposed on the neck under suitable tension, it grips and adheres to the neck circumferentially. And a further object is to generally improve, simplify and cheapen the construction of collapsible containers, to afford the free dispensing of paste and other plastic con- 45 tents, when pressure is exerted to collapse the tubes.

I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in

50 which:

Figure l is a broken side elevation, showing the ring valve in the open position for dispensing the contents of the tube. Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation, showing the valve in the position for 55 closing the discharge opening. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the valve open. Fig. 4 is a similar sec tion taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the valve closed. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the tube. Fig. 6 is a top plan of the annular closure. 5 Fig. 7 is a central vertical section, taken on line 'I'! of Fig. 6. And Fig. 8 is a central vertical section, showing the free end of the neck bent and the valve in the closed position.

In the drawing, 2 represents a collapsible tube 10 or like container, usually having a closed bottom (not shown) and a conical top 2', the latter being drawn, molded or otherwise treated to form a plain and smooth integral and ax al neck 3, having a closed and upset free end 3' that prevents the closure from becoming accidentally detached from the neck, which has no opening except a circumferential discharge slot 3a, by which the contents may be ejected by squeezing the body of the tube.

My improved dispensing means, which is designed to. take the place of the usual screw caps or swivel members common to collapsible tubes of this class, consists of an annular elastic spongy rubber valve or closure 4 of circular cross-section having an inner diameter 4 less than the diameter of the neck, so that the closure may be expanded and applied to the neck and then forcibly rolled by virtue of its circular cross-section longitudinally towards and away from the discharge opening 3a. The closure 4 is not permanently secured to the neck 3 which renders it unnecessary to machine the tube except to draw or mold the neck and punch the discharge opening. By this peculiar construction and arrangement no metal parts are needed either for the tube or for the closure; the circumferential slot 3a being disposed at right angles to the axis of the tube 2, a portion of the inner face 4 of the ring 4 expands when it is rolled on the neck 3 towards the beveled flange 3' and sinks into the depression caused by the forming of the slot 30. thereby closing and sealing the slot, and preventing escape and waste of the contents of the tube. When the rubber ring is disposed on the neck at suitable tension it grips and adheres to the neck circumferentially, so that it requires forcible manipulation in order to effect the opening and closing of the duct 3a.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified container and dispensing means which consists of forming the neck with a lateral bend, as 5, which discharges ribbon 6 of the paste at an angle of 45 degrees, instead of horizontally, as shown in Fig. 3.

Obviously, my extremely simple and novel dispensing valve 4 may be applied to many different containers without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is-

1. The combination with a collapsible tube having a neck portion formed with a closed free end surrounded by an annular flange, and having a circumferential discharge slot between the flange and the body of the tube, of an elastic annular closure whose inner diameter is less than the girth of the neck, adapted to be rolled towards and from the discharge slot, to control the dispensing of the contents of the tube.

2. The combination with a collapsible tube including a neck portion having its free end closed and surrounded with a flange stop, and having a discharge opening adjacent said flange,of aclosure comprising an elastic rubber ring of circular crosssection having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the neck, adapted to be rolled lon- 'gitudinally towards and away from the discharge opening, to regulate the dispensing of the contents of the tube.

3. The combination with a collapsible tube having a normally closed neck portion upset to provide an annular stop, and having a circumferential discharge slot between the body of the tube and the stop, of an elastic and spongy ring valve of circular cross-section adjustably mounted upon the neck and having an inner diameter less than the girth of the neck to suitably tension the valve, which is adapted to be rolled by virtue of said circular cross-section towards and away from the discharge slot, to open and close said slot.

4. The combination with a collapsible tube having a protruding axial neck formed with a discharge opening, the free end of the neck being closed and encircled by an annular flange, of an elastic and spongy rubber valve of circular crosssection adjustably mounted on the neck and adapted to be rolled'longitudinally thereof towards and away from the said opening, the inner diameter of said valve being restricted to tension and cause the valve to grip and adhere to the neck circumferentially when force is applied to impel same.

SIDNEY L. GILBERT. 

